Social lites: April Sound

By Ann Marie Ricci, April Sound

Published 4:09 pm, Saturday, August 12, 2017

Within our April Sound community, many small groups of friends frequently get together to share a meal, friendship, and interesting discussions. For members of the April Sound Ladies Association, there are twelve different dinner groups – including Gourmet Gurus, a couples group always open which has the distinction of being the first dinner group formed by ASLA members over twenty years ago. These groups meet at the discretion of the members. Sometimes they meet at a certain restaurant, sometimes they gather first for drinks and appetizers or dessert afterward at a home as part of the evening, and sometimes they have potlucks at different homes. Some groups have stayed together for years, even if members are no longer part ASLA.

Last year, Beverley Poltorak decided to start a Couples Out to Lunch Group. This group has grown to about 34 members who meet on Monday or Tuesday of the second week of each month and go to a different area restaurant for lunch. This week the group met at Wild Ginger for a delightful Japanese lunch. Chef Ritchie prepared a medley of vegetables, fried rice, chicken, seafood or beef choices on the hibachi grill while doing many fun tricks and jokes to entertain. April Sound resident and Manager of Wild Ginger, Laura DeHart, greeted the group and made us all feel welcome.

In the near future there are plans to have April Sound's own Chef Art Oettmeier prepare some of his favorite dishes for Couples Out to Lunch. Did you all see the August issue of Review It Magazine that is delivered to many homes? Chef Art is featured on page 24 as one of the top chefs in the northwest part of the Houston area. That is very exciting for the April Sound Country Club!

Speaking of luncheons, the April Sound Men's Club will have the monthly luncheon in the Lakeside Room on August 17th with Jack Yates, Administrator of the City of Montgomery, speaking about all the exciting new development. The next week on Wednesday, August 23, the Ladies Association will have "Fall into Fashion" presented by the Anything Bling Boutique from Vintage Park in Houston, whose clothes are "fun, sassy, fashionable and flirty".

Looking ahead to October 5th, the Men's Club will take a "field trip" to the newly opened Houston Methodist Hospital where Trent Fullin, Vice President of Hospital Operations, will give a behind the scenes tour and host a luncheon with a question and answer period presented by hospital physicians. Details will be announced at the September Men's Club luncheon, but mark your calendars now!

My point in listing all these opportunities to get together and share a meal is that this is a wonderful way to really get to know people and form closer relationships. We have been fortunate to meet some of our best friends through participation in lunch and dinner groups. Think about it! (Many thanks to John Blair for the information he sent to me for this article!)